"Marc Landy and Sidney Milkis claim that we have had no great presidents in the last half of this century. In this provocative new book, they explain why." "Landy and Milkis look to the past to show how five presidents - Washington, Jefferson, Jackson, Lincoln, and Franklin Roosevelt - set the standards for presidential leadership and achievement.". "Searching for common threads in these five presidencies, Landy and Milkis enable us to better understand both the possibilities and the limitations of the office."--BOOK JACKET.